CHAP. VIII.

Protestants sup.

2. We shall next sce, that the Protes

tants are amply supplied, at the charge of the plied with arms, Irish People, with those arms and offensive

at the public

expense.

17 Geo. 2. ch. 6. sect. 5.

weapons, which they are thus authorised, by positive Law, to have and use in any quantity.

For, in the first place, the Grand Juries of counties are authorized to nominate 16 Protestant sub-constables of every barony, with salaries of 24 yearly, to be levied upon the 27 Geo. 3. c.40. counties-that is to say, for the far greater part, upon the Catholic occupiers of land.

Protestant subconstables.

Ibid. and

These persons are to have proper arms, to exercise the powers of constables, &c. &c.

Now, upon a reasonable estimate, averaged at 10 baronies to each of the 32 counties, this allotted number of 16 Protestant subconstables to each barony, would amount to a total number exceeding 5000 armed Protestants-dispersed throughont Ireland-of low degree-invested with the powers of executing. the Laws-and also, indeed, with too many opportunities of violating them.

These Protestant constables, and as many 32 Geo. 3. c. 16. Protestant assistants as the justice may deem necessary, are allowed fire arms, and a hire of 3d. per mile to each, for conducting persons to gaol, under a Mittimus. These charges are also to be levied upon the counties!

Here is good pecuniary encouragement to CHAP. VIII. accept and use arms, thus tendered to the lower

Protestants.

Protestants,

ry.

3. Next-Arms are bestowed in large Corps of armed quantities upon various corps of Protestants in called YeomanIreland-called Volunteers corps, although they receive pay and Yeomanry corps, although formed, in numerous instances, of persons who are

Protestants.

Catholics

not yeomen. Every Protestant in Ireland, fit to Corps filled with bear arms, is a member of one of these corps; or may become a member, whenever he pleases. On the other hand, the Catholics are carefully, excluded, as long as Protestants can be procured, cluded. willing to enter.-This system prevails, generally in the Northern counties;-very much in Dublin and other cities-and is coeval with the institution of these corps in 1796.

This exclusion of Catholics produces a fur

are com

ther injury. For, whilst they
pletely exposed to the Militia Ballot; and,
if drawn, are compellable to abandon their
homes and families for military hazards-the
Protestants may enjoy full protection from the
ballot, by virtue of the parliamentary exemption
in favour of all members of these corps.

Thus every Protestant in Ireland is, or may be, sheltered from the Militia ballot: the Ca

Protestants protected from Militia Balloo

CHAP. VIII. tholic is unprotected and hence it naturally follows, that scarcely a Protestant private can be procured for the service, even in those Northern counties.

Catholics unprotected.

the Catholics.

As Members of these corps, they may plead their right to be exempted and this plea is conclusive.

The most turbulent or ferocious may keep North of Ire- and use Arms, without limit or restraint and land disgraced by sanguinary the dreadful scenes of riot and massacre, of outrages against skirmishes with the regulars and militią, and of periodical outrage, which the Northern counties of Ireland (especially Armagh, Antrim, Tyrone, &c.) so frequently exhibit, are melancholy proofs, that these Arms are, in too many instances, misapplied to purposes of lamentable aggression and mischief.

SECTION IV.

General Laws of restraint.

Further infringement of this Right, by recent Statutes.

1. WE shall advert to certain Statutes, abridging the right of the people of Ireland, generally, to have or use arms-which Statutes

are directed, however, and enforced in practice, CHAP.VIII. against the Catholics alone.

In substance, they direct as follows, viz.

General restraints.

"All persons shall deliver to the Justices at the 36 Geo. 3. c. 20. "Sessions written lists of their arms, &c. specifying "the places where such arms are kept, and verified "by them upon oath. Which lists shall be registered "in the books of the Clerks of the Peace.

"They may afterwards be brought before any two Justices, and examined by them upon oath, touch"ing such lists-from time to time, and as often as "the Justices may think proper. After such scrutiny "their houses, &c. may be closely searched for arms."

to 1812, and

"They are further required, by the Statute of 1807, 47 Geo. 3. ❝ (if not previously registered as above) to deliver to sess. 2. ch. 54. Temporary"the Justices at the sessions certain written Notices, but continued "stating the number, quantity and descriptions of end of then their arms, &c. and where kept-also to annex next session, by 50 Geo 3.c.109 "affidavits, verifying such notices, and stating a "belief, that they are by Law entitled to keep 66 arms.

"If the Justices think proper, they may grant to "each of such persons a license to retain a certain 66 quantity of his arms. If not, they may refuse such "license, and the interdicted person may appeal-to "the next Sessions.

"The Justices may withdraw the license whenever "they please; and the interdicted person is punish"able-in case he neglects to deliver up his regis

CHAP, VIII. →

General Laws, enforced against the Catholics

alone.

50 Geo, 3.

ca 109.

Modification of
the Act of
1807.

tered arms to the next resident Justice, within 48 hours afterwards.”

"Persons having arms, not duly notified and "registered, as directed, forfeit the arms and are "punished-for the first offence, with £10 fine, or 2 "months' imprisonment: for the second, £20 fine, "or 4 months' imprisonment."

"Any one Justice, upon reasonable suspicion, may "by warrant authorize any person to search for con"cealed arms, and to enter all houses for that purpose; "and to break open houses-if not admitted within a "reasonable time after demand.”

2. The foregoing restrictions have been continued for two years, by a Statute enacted in 1810 with, however, some slight modifications, viz.

"No Justice is to authorize another person to search for arms, &c. (under the authority of the "Statute of 1807) without a warrant for that purpose

from the Lord Lieutenant or Chief Secretary." "Two Justices (instead of one only, as before) go Geo. 3, ch. may search personally for arms, &c."

"The Powers (which the Statute of 1807 had “vested in any one Justice) of summoning, from time

to time, any licensed person to deliver an inventory "of his arms, &c. and of examining him upoir "oath, &c. are, in future, to be exercised only once;